The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-09
THE CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE.
Social and Economic Topics Discussed by Some
of the Ablest Men of the Country.

W,
WASHINGTON, Dee. Sat the opening of the
second morning session of the conference which
is being held under the auspices of the Evan.
gelical Alliance for the United States nearly
every seat in the First Congregational Church
occupied After devotional exercises. the
presiding officer, Justice Harlan of the United
States Supreme Court introduced Rev. S. w.
Dixie, of Auburndale. Mass, who read a paper
on "Perils to the Family" In the course of his
paper Mr.. Dixie said that the American family is
not strong enough for the strain upon it from
our social condition. Perils threaten in three
particulars. As social production our failures
with the family are dangerously numerous. In
some States five, ten or twelve percentum of the
families formed annually suffer dissolution in
the courts. Fatal troubles increase this num-
Der. Unchastity corrupts many families. and
criminal practices render others unfruitfuI,
leaving the lower classes to replenish popula-
ton. Probably all these evils the in
crease. Divorces certainly are No Christian
country, he said takes greater risks from loose
marriage and divorce laws than the United
States. The fundamental place of the family in
society gives grave significance to these perils
Historically the family is the germ of all other
social Institutions, and it is their living tissue.
Weakness here Is most dangerous. The paper
urged the Alliance to secure closer fellowship
between scholars in the social sciences and the
clergy, whereby the latter could get the benefits
of the new material and better methods of the
former.
Col j. G. Green, of Hartford Conn, then read
a paper 1.-THE Social Vice. He said that
every kind of lawlessness instinctively recos
nizes the family foe, and seeks to corruIt
and weaken it. The reproduction of human life
is the highest function of which human beings
capable. But not only the genesis. but all
that go to shape and train 1T are OF moment.
The speaker named among the more dangerous
and more unnoticed agencies for promotion of
the social vices, first, the public school, with its
inevitable mingling of the pure and the impure.
where evil influences are as rife as fungi in a
swamp. The White Cross work is especially
needed here. The novel, against which we do
not nowadays hear the protest that we ought, is
dangerous. Pure fiction does not constitute the
bulk of that published. vast number read
almost nothing except highly spiced impure
fiction. The sensational, Scandal-mongering
press is the close ally of impure fiction The eyes
of journalism are turned into every corner, and
its wonderful acumen is largely employed to dis
cover that which is poisonous. Art, in pain ting,
sculpture and music. which may and often does
disseminate impure suggestions, Is the most
dangerous way Of all. The saloon is another
exceedingly fruitful seed-bed for the germs of
impurity. The church must do more than mercy
avoid and hold its skirts from contamination.
We must make aggressive as well mere
defensive warfare. The church must teach
parents, and they must teach children. But in
outside fields that the church cannot reach, the
White Cross work can do much. and should be
pushed.
Nj Z. Il.
New Haven Law School, said he thought the.
Greeks, and Romans. and ancient nations gem
orally were wisest in making the father the
priest. In this respect he thought the Roman
Catholic church does better than others.
A Voice. don't recognize it as Christian
church at all
with MIR. Dixie, that the Catholic church has
often given most efficient help" responded
Mr.. Baldwin.
President Dodge said that the alliance has al
church for all that is good. although it had been
obliged TO protest against the ultramontane at
tack upon public schools
President John Eaton, of Marietta College,
Ohio, late United States Commissioner of Edu-
cation, then read a paper on "Illiteracy.' in the
course of which he said that illiteracy Is a
measure of ignorance. sign of darkness, an in
vitation to fraud, cover to lniquity. Hitter
acy is hostile to mans welfare, hinders industry
and prosperity, obstructs virtue and imper1ls
piety. If knowledge is power, ignorance IS
weakness, and becomes a temptation to per-
xeraed ln.eLllgence; III n eIGned o,atn,,nber
the votes cast for either of the political
parties. and could control their legislation and
administration and elect twenty two United
States Senators and corresponding number or
the national House of Representatives How
do they everywhere invite bribery. perjury, in
competency and betrayal of trust. Something
more than eternal vigilance is required to settle
the vast and complicated questions before us
and preserve the nice balance of our political
forces. The Nation must aid in the work of
education. Were there no illiterate Indians,
Mormons, Chinese or other foreigners or
natives. white or black all our great problems
would be greatly simplifed
President Angel. of Michigan University.
presided at the afternoon session and introduced
president James McCosh ID. d., Of Princeton
College. who read paper on THE Church IN
Relation to the Capital and Labor Question
At the close of DR.. sMcCosh's address, cable
gram expressing the sympathy of the council OF
the English Evangelical Alliance nowiin session
in London was read to the conference.
Hon. Seth Low, of Brooklyn, followed DR.. Me-
Gosh and spoke the same topic.
A general discussion of the subject followed,
in which Rev. A. c. Schade. of Cleveland, O..
took prominent part
Tonight paper on 1.-THE Christian Resources
of our Country" was read by Rev James NJ
King D. d. of New York. and addresses made
by President d. c. Gilman, LID. of John Hop
kins University, and Rev Dr. w. E. Hatcher.
of Richmond Va